Program Models for Elementary World Language

All elementary students should have access to some type of world language program. There are many types of models schools can use depending on the needs and goals of the school and community.

Dual Language Immersion Programs
Dual language immersion programs provide content instruction in both English and another language. These programs are often described in percentages. For example, a 50% dual language immersion program provides content instruction in English 50% of the time and in another language 50% of the time. For example, Math, Science, and Physical Education are taught in Spanish while Language Arts, Social Studies, and Art are taught in English. The time in the language can be divided by subject area, by chronological time, and/or by unit of study. Immersion is an optimal way to build language fluency quickly for two languages simultaneously. English language learners who are using their native language as the second language benefit in gaining academic ground otherwise lost to language barriers while building English literacy. Students who are native English speakers benefit from an enriched, high performing education. For more information about Dual Language Immersion programming in Nebraska, visit Dual Language Immersion.

FLES: Foreign Language in Elementary School
FLES classes usually meet two to five times a week for 20 to 40 minutes at a time. Classes focus on the language as a content area of its own. Teachers follow the natural sequence of language learning: understanding, speaking, reading, and writing.

Content-Based FLES
Content-Based FLES classes follow the model of FLES programming except that the content of the course will correspond with other subject areas. For example, if the topic in Social Studies is how to read a map, the Content-Based FLES class will learn map terminology in a second language. This can provide a way of both supporting and advancing learning in both the content and the second language.

FLEX: Foreign Language Exploratory
FLEX programs introduce students to world languages and cultures in order to motivate them to pursue further language study. Instruction is in English about world language and culture. Students may learn phrases and vocabulary. Fluency in the language is not the objective.